# Quote — Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

> “That little boys and girls should be tormented,” said Henry, “is what no one at all acquainted with human nature in a civilized state can deny; but in behalf of our most distinguished historians, I must observe, that they might well be offended at being supposed to have no higher aim; and that by their method and style, they are perfectly well qualified to torment readers of the most advanced reason and mature time of life.”, p. 226, 2013

- Author: [Jane Austen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen.md)
- Book: [Northanger Abbey](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/northanger-abbey.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Northanger_Abbey#Chapter_14) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/northanger-abbey/that-little-boys

## More from this book

> It is probable that she will neither love so well, nor flirt so well, as she might do either singly., p. 302, 2013

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/northanger-abbey/it-is-probable.md)

> A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/northanger-abbey/a-woman-especially.md)

> But historians are not accountable for the difficulty of learning to read; and even you yourself, who do not altogether seem particularly friendly to very severe, very intense application, may perhaps be brought to acknowledge that it is very well worth while to be tormented for two or three years of one's life, for the sake of being able to read all the rest of it., p. 228, 2013

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/northanger-abbey/but-historians-are.md)